Device with Soluble Hook-Shaped Micro-Elements for the Deployment of Substances into the Leaves of Plants

Abstract

The invention concerns a miniaturised device (10) suitable for deploying substances into the leaves (F) of plants comprising an array of anchoring micro-elements (12) made of a soluble material. The device also comprises sensors (23), so that it is possible to simultaneously deploy substances on both the abaxial and the adaxial side of the leaf (F) and simultaneously monitor the effects thereof.

1 .- 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A miniaturized integrated device operable for deploying substances into an inner tissue of a leaf of a plant, comprising:
 one or more anchoring microelements made of a soluble material; and   electronic components comprising sensors for monitoring an effect of the substances deployed on the plant.   
     
     
         12 . The miniaturized integrated device according to  claim 11 , wherein the anchoring micro-elements are made of a material based on sugar alcohols. 
     
     
         13 . The miniaturized device according to  claim 12 , wherein the material based on sugar alcohols is selected from the group consisting of isomalt, erythritol, lactitol, maltitol, mannitol, xylitol, sorbitol and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The miniaturized device according to  claim 12 , wherein the soluble material is an isomalt-based material. 
     
     
         15 . The miniaturized device according to  claim 11 , wherein the soluble material is mixed with substances containing active ingredients selected from the group consisting of molecules, nanoparticles, nucleic acids, viruses, bacteria, ions, salts, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The miniaturized device according to  claim 11 , wherein the anchoring micro-elements are at least partially coated with a layer of a material with reduced solubility. 
     
     
         17 . The miniaturized device according to  claim 11 , wherein the anchoring micro-elements are a matrix of abaxial hook-shaped micro-elements each having dimensions of an order of tens or hundreds of pm, wherein the abaxial hook-shaped micro-elements are arranged in arrays on a sheet support. 
     
     
         18 . The miniaturized device according to  claim 17 , wherein each abaxial hook-shaped micro-element is formed by a conical base and by a hooked upper portion which becomes thinner as it approaches an apical part, wherein the hooked portion never assumes a downward orientation and has a greater extension in a direction parallel to a base surface than an extension in a direction orthogonal thereto. 
     
     
         19 . The miniaturized device according to  claim 11 , further comprising a distal portion and a proximal portion, wherein the proximal portion consists of a pair of jaws through which the leaf is operable to be clamped, wherein inner sides of the pair of jaws are provided with the anchoring micro-elements. 
     
     
         20 . The miniaturized device according to  claim 19 , wherein the proximal portion includes the sensors, wherein the sensors are selected from the group consisting of humidity sensors, temperature sensors, light sensors and combinations thereof, and the distal portion includes electrical and electronic components that allow the acquisition, processing and remote sending of data acquired by the sensors.